Penn State’s Nassib wins Lombardi award
HOUSTON (AP) – Penn State senior Carl Nassib is the winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top college football lineman or linebacker.
The defensive end accepted the award from the Rotary Club of Houston on Wednesday.
Nassib joins a list that includes Manti Te’o (2012), Luke Kuechly (2011), Ndamukong Suh (2009), A.J. Hawk (2005), Terrell Suggs (2002), Julius Peppers (2001) and Warren Sapp (1994).
Nassib, who won the Ted Hendricks award for best defensive end, finished the season with 46 tackles, 15 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles to go with one interception. The Nittany Lions (7-5) take on Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2.
Nassib beat out Texas A&M sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett, Ohio State junior defensive end Joey Bosa and Clemson junior defensive end Shaq Lawson for the honor.
Bosa was a finalist for the honor last season as well. Lawson and Nassib were beat out by Temple’s Tyler Matakevich for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player, on Monday in Charlotte.